Suppression of the solar ultraviolet-induced skin carcinogenesis by TOPK inhibitor HI-TOPK-032.

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) such as cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is caused by solar ultraviolet (SUV) exposure and is the most common cancer in the United States. T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK), a serine-threonine kinase is activated by SUV irradiation and involved in skin carcinogenesis. Strategies with research focusing on the TOPK signaling pathway and targeted therapy in skin carcinogenesis may helpful for the discovery of additional treatments against skin cancer.

The ginsenoside 20-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol induces autophagy and apoptosis in human melanoma via AMPK/JNK phosphorylation.

Studies have shown that a major metabolite of the red ginseng ginsenoside Rb1, called 20-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (GPD), exhibits anticancer properties. However, the chemotherapeutic effects and molecular mechanisms behind GPD action in human melanoma have not been previously investigated. Here we report the anticancer activity of GPD and its mechanism of action in melanoma cells.

ERK1 phosphorylates Nanog to regulate protein stability and stem cell self-renewal.

Nanog regulates human and mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell self-renewal activity. Activation of ERKs signaling negatively regulates ES cell self-renewal and induces differentiation, but the mechanisms are not understood. We found that ERK1 binds and phosphorylates Nanog.

The P110 subunit of PI3-K is a therapeutic target of acacetin in skin cancer.

The identification of primary molecular targets of cancer-preventive phytochemicals is essential for a comprehensive understanding of their mechanism of action. In the present study, we investigated the chemopreventive effects and molecular targets of acacetin, a flavonoid found in Robinia p seudoacacia, also known as black locust. Acacetin treatment significantly suppressed epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced cell transformation.

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound surgery for symptomatic uterine fibroids: estimation of treatment efficacy using thermal dose calculations.

Objective: To study the correlation between the predicted thermal dose volume (TDV) and the actual ablation volumes in MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) for symptomatic uterine fibroids, and to follow up the outcome for 12 months post-treatment.

Study Design: Phase-difference fast spoiled gradient-echo MR images were used to analyze thermal change during the energy deliveries of MRgFUS in 60 consecutive patients treated for symptomatic uterine fibroids. The TDV obtained through analysis of these MR images was compared with the non-perfused volume (NPV) measured on post-treatment contrast enhanced T1-weighted images.

Embryonic stem-cell-preconditioned microenvironment induces loss of cancer cell properties in human melanoma cells.

The cancer microenvironment affects cancer cell proliferation and growth. Embryonic stem (ES)-preconditioned 3-dimensional (3-D) culture of cancer cells induces cancer cell reprogramming and results in a change in cancer cell properties such as differentiation and migration in skin melanoma. However, the mechanism has not yet been clarified.

Long-term results of symptomatic fibroids treated with uterine artery embolization: in conjunction with MR evaluation.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to determine long-term clinical efficacy of uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) for symptomatic fibroids in conjunction with MR evaluation.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen patients with a follow-up period of 4 years or longer were analyzed retrospectively. Ages ranged from 27 to 45 (mean 39.

Long-term results of uterine artery embolization for symptomatic adenomyosis.

Objective: Controversy exists regarding the effectiveness of uterine artery embolization (UAE) in the management of symptomatic adenomyosis. The aim our study was to determine the long-term clinical efficacy of UAE in the management of symptomatic adenomyosis without fibroids.

Materials And Methods: The cases of all patients who underwent UAE for adenomyosis without fibroids between 1998 and 2000 were analyzed.

Role of aspartate 351 in transactivation and active conformation of estrogen receptor alpha.

Estrogen-dependent transcriptional activation by estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) depends on the conformation of helices 3 and 12 in the ligand-binding domain. To better understand the function of helix 3 in ERalpha, we examined the role of charged residues, which are conserved in most steroid receptors in helix 3, in estrogen-dependent transactivation. The replacement of Asp-351 with lysine (D351K) or leucine (D351 L) completely abolished estrogen-dependent transactivation without affecting estrogen-binding, DNA-binding and homodimerization activities in ERalpha.

Macrophage activation by polysaccharide fraction isolated from Salicornia herbacea.

We demonstrate that polysaccharides isolated from Salicornia herbacea (Salicornia polysaccharides, SPS) significantly induces nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) transcription through the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB/Rel (NF-kappaB/Rel). SPS dose-dependently induced the production of NO in isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages and RAW 264.7, a mouse macrophage-like cell line.

Pregnancy following uterine artery embolization with polyvinyl alcohol particles for patients with uterine fibroid or adenomyosis.

Purpose: To determine whether uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles affects fertility in women desiring future pregnancy.

Methods: Of 288 patients managed with UFE with PVA particles for uterine myoma or adenomyosis between 1998 and 2001, 94 patients were enrolled in this study. The age range of participants was 20-40 years.

Uterine restoration after repeated sloughing of fibroids or vaginal expulsion following uterine artery embolization.

The aim of our study is to present our experience with uterine restoration after repeated sloughing of uterine fibroids or transvaginal expulsion following uterine artery embolization (UAE) and to determine its safety and outcome. One hundred and twenty-four women (mean age, 40.3 years; age range, 29-52 years) with symptomatic uterine fibroids were included in this retrospective study.

Levodopa-responsive parkinsonism in hereditary spastic paraplegia with thin corpus callosum.

Hereditary spastic paraplegia with thin corpus callosum is a rare degenerative disease, which is characterized by a progressive weakness of the lower limbs with a hypoplastic corpus callosum, and is often associated with other symptoms such as mental impairment, amyotrophy, sensory disturbances, dysuria, nystagmus and cataract. We describe two siblings (brother and sister) who showed a thin corpus callosum on MRI, one of whom showed the pure form of progressive spastic paraplegia, while the other showed predominant levodopa-responsive parkinsonism. The present cases are illustrative of a phenotypic heterogeneity in the same family of spastic paraplegia with a thin corpus callosum, despite the identical neuroimaging findings, and also presented another form of autosomal recessive juvenile levodopa-responsive parkinsonism.

Enhanced interleukin-4 production in CD4+ T cells and elevated immunoglobulin E levels in antigen-primed mice by bisphenol A and nonylphenol, endocrine disruptors: involvement of nuclear factor-AT and Ca2+.

Bisphenol A (BPA) and p-nonylphenol (NP) are representative endocrine disruptors (EDs) that may have adverse effects on human health. The influence of these compounds on allergic immune responses remains unclear. In this study, we have examined the effects of BPA and NP on production of interleukin-4 (IL-4), a pro-inflammatory cytokine closely associated with allergic immune responses.